Agriculture

1(a) It is very difficult and early to tell what the effect of COVID-19 is on the agricultural sector in the Western Cape. Working closely with our industry stakeholders, we have however started with some research to estimate potential impacts, and have summarised what factors are currently affecting production. Agriculture is particularly interconnected with a host of other industries, and dependent on a stable macro economy. Although large parts of the sector have been classified as essential, there has been reports of slowed exports, job losses, as well as certain industries (flowers, wine, wool & mohair) already hard hit by the pandemic. Agriculture is also very dependent on tourism with activities such as wine tasting, outdoor activities, 4x4 routes, farm accommodation, wedding & conference venues all directly affected during the lockdown. We anticipate that the global slowdown in demand for agricultural products and increased costs associated with the import of key agricultural inputs, will drive farm income lower on average by 7.8% in real terms, whilst job losses of around 14 000 are expected. These projections are all-dependent on how the situation unfolds and will be adjusted as new information becomes available.

(b) The WCDoA has shared and continuously disseminates updated relevant information, regulations and legislation in terms of health and safety standards, as well as hygiene practices regarding COVID-19, with the industry bodies, producers /farmers, organised agriculture associations and agri workers, in order to ensure that they are compliant and adhere to these regulations and applicable legislative frameworks. The guidelines developed contain all the rules packaged in a user-friendly manner, regarding good hygiene practices, social distancing, self-isolation, transporting of agri workers. The WCDoA has also developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, which serves as an additional guide for producers /farmers and agri workers.

The WCDoA has assisted the agri workers and producers with the provision of facemasks and also donated hand sanitisers, as a means of further protection of agri workers. 

          The enforcement of the regulations is vested in various mandated authorities within government institutions e.g. Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), road traffic law enforcement, SAPS and SANDF, which also covers the movement of persons from their place of work to residence and vice versa. The Department and organised agriculture have re-iterated and continuously placed emphasis on the producers /farmers and agri workers to abide to the rules and regulations surrounding COVID-19 lockdown, since it is in everyone’s best interest to be compliant.

Due to the COVID-19 disaster, the various role-players and oversight bodies within the agricultural sector in the Province have instituted more stringent health protocols, safety and precautionary measures, in order to mitigate risks to exposure and to curb the spread of the virus.

2)      The WCDoA has been made aware of possible cases where agri workers/ employees may have tested positive for COVID-19. Once received, these reports are followed up with the appropriate and relevant stakeholders within the reported locations. Health officials, as the lead and mandated authority, are informed of the incidents and proceed to follow due health protocols, procedures to verify information within the guidelines of POPI (Protection of Personal Information), screening and testing, amongst others.

Audits and assessments of the workplace is the mandate of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), hence in spaces /sites where positive cases have been reported and/ or identified, the DEL representatives carries out their audits and assessments and advise whether the operations can continue, as well as the range of risks factors identified, and the way forward. The DEL conducts inspections at agricultural facilities, after which a report is compiled outlining the findings and recommendations.